World Pangolin Day Highlights Growing Illegal Trade Threat

21 February: World Pangolin Day 2026 has drawn renewed attention to the growing threat facing pangolins following the release of a new global report exposing the scale of illegal trade.

According to the report, more than 530,000 pangolins were involved in 2,222 illegal trade seizures between 2016 and 2024. Alarmingly, pangolin scales made up 99% of all confiscated parts, showing that demand for scales remains the biggest driver of poaching.

The report, titled Conservation Status, Trade and Enforcement Efforts for Pangolins, was prepared by experts from the IUCN Species Survival Commission Pangolin Specialist Group for the CITES Secretariat. It is based on data submitted by 32 countries, including 15 pangolin-range States, and provides the most up-to-date picture of pangolin conservation and trade.

There are eight pangolin species worldwide, four of which are found in Africa. All are threatened, ranging from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered. Pangolins are heavily targeted for their scales and meat, face habitat loss, and are also hunted for local bushmeat markets.

Despite being listed under CITES Appendix I, which bans international commercial trade, and appearing as Endangered or Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, illegal trafficking continues at worrying levels.

The report shows that 49 countries were linked to pangolin seizures, but just 10 countries accounted for 96% of all cases. China and Viet Nam were identified as the main destinations for illegally traded pangolin parts, while Nigeria, Mozambique, Cameroon, and the Congo were key countries of origin.

The most common illegal trade route was from Nigeria to Viet Nam, involving more than 82,000 whole pangolin equivalents across just nine seizures. Experts warn that these figures represent only a small fraction of the real trade, as many shipments are never detected.

Although seizure data helps track trafficking routes, the report highlights major gaps in understanding pangolin populations in the wild. No new population estimates have been produced since 2021, largely because pangolins are nocturnal, shy, and difficult to study. Many African countries also struggle with weak enforcement, limited resources, and low public awareness.

Peter Knights OBE, CEO of Wild Africa, warned that pangolins cannot survive continued exploitation.

“With few natural predators and slow reproduction rates, pangolins cannot sustain human exploitation. We need stronger enforcement and more public awareness in Africa if they are to survive,” he said.

Despite the grim picture, the report highlights positive progress.

Nigeria introduced the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill in 2024, proposing tougher penalties for wildlife trafficking. West African states have also launched the West Africa Regional Pangolin Conservation Action Plan 2026–2056.

Namibia announced a National Species Management Plan in 2025, strengthening laws, enforcement, and community involvement. Over the past four years, 35 pangolins have been rescued and released.

In Cameroon, prices for pangolin scales fell by 45–75% between 2020 and 2025, suggesting reduced demand. New laws passed in 2024 now allow fines of up to US$89,000 and prison sentences of up to 20 years for crimes involving pangolins.

The report calls on pangolin-range countries to improve population monitoring, strengthen law enforcement, and involve local communities and Indigenous peoples in conservation efforts. Better data and community-led protection are seen as key to saving pangolins in the long term.